If success in a Rugby World Cup could be measured in currency, economists would define skill as a more valuable asset than knowledge or physicality.
Proverbially, if knowledge is power, skill usurps the influence of knowledge in the sporting arena by facilitating uncompromising speed, ruthless efficiency and bewildering unpredictability.
The best rugby teams, however, combine both facets with an intimidating physicality that is unrivalled by their opponents. Ultimately, this notion manifests itself in superiority.
Never has this theory been more applicable than to the 2015 Rugby World Cup champions, the New Zealand All Blacks. If the triumphant story of the All Blacks were glorified in a book, you need read only the prologue to gain an understanding of how it may end.
In the four years since New Zealand lifted the Webb-Ellis Cup on home soil, there was an undercurrent of predictability so certain about the outcome of their campaign, you could have forgiven them for not ever considering just how they may have lost it.
Coach Steve Hansen, renowned for his fastidious nature, would never entertain thought so fantastical, such is the unwavering focus on contributing to the legacy of the All Blacks, of building a dynasty and inspiring a generation of future All Blacks.
Consider the sheer disparity of the All Blacks compared to the rest of the world over the past four years. Refreshingly defined by objectivity rather than opinion – the facts and results are so blindingly obvious that the only conclusion is that they have been untouchable, even unbeatable for the majority of the time.
So dominant have they been that it is hard to visualise any weakness or period of decline in the immediate future, let alone leading up to the next World Cup in 2019, irrespective of a string of retiring greats. There is a seemingly eternal line of prodigies ready to make their mark as the next Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu or Richie McCaw.
Ultimately, the only question to pose is ‘how?’
How are New Zealand so far ahead of the rest of the world that they can safely be regarded as the most dominant side in the history of not just rugby, but all sport?
The answer, neglecting culture and context, is actually very obvious. It is based on skill and ability. New Zealand are renowned for employing the fundamentals to their advantage and striking with the quintessential All Blacks speed that has been the frightening trademark of their craft for so many years.
Since taking charge of the All Blacks, Steve Hansen’s primary ambition has centred on improving ability. But the hallmark of New Zealand rugby lies in its dynamism, in it’s skillset. The thought process is that should the circumstance arise, prop Owen Franks should be able to pass to Julian Savea to effect a try just as easily as Dan Carter or fullback Ben Smith can.
Pigeonholing is not a phrase in Steve Hansen’s vocabulary, there is only ubiquitous skill.
Catch. Pass. Catch. Pass. Catch. Pass.
This mantra brought the Wallabies undone in incredibly efficient style in the shadows of half time of the final. It was a play so successful it had effectively scuppered their chances of snatching ‘Bill’ from the hands of the All Blacks with a half yet to play.
On that occasion, the sniping Aaron Smith combined with the rollicking Conrad Smith who, like he was engaged in a game of ‘hot potato’, offloaded immediately to his captain. McCaw proceeded to smartly shift play to Nehe Milner-Skudder who iced the manoeuvre with the inevitable try.
Catch. Pass. Catch. Pass. Catch. Pass.
Laborious to describe, electrifying to watch. It is the ultimate version of having your cake and eating it too. It is the reason the All Blacks won the World Cup.
The best rugby teams balance knowledge, skill and physicality in order to become the pinnacle of their sport. The coalescence of these principles is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s successful campaign. The contrast to the rest of the world, perhaps with an exception of Australia, could hardly have been greater.
England possessed knowledge, both of conditions and of their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Physicality at the scrum has long underpinned their previous successes. But they lacked effective skill – and it is why their campaign ended prematurely.
It was rugby’s version of Occam’s Razor – the simplest game plan is the best.
This approach has worked well when playing northern rivals but when pitted against the attacking southern hemisphere powerhouses, a battle of attrition is an antiquated, ineffectual approach.
Eventually, a penalty goal to Owen Farrell will be overshadowed by a slick try involving the outside backs of the southern opposition – and so it told with the ignominy of a group stage exit.
The Springboks have knowledge but have always lacked the distinguishing attacking flair of the three other southern hemisphere heavyweights.
They march to the beat of their own drum in that respect, imposing themselves with brutality and physicality rather than finesse – and in fairness it has won them more matches than most. But maintaining only physicality and knowledge was not enough to score a miraculous final minute try in the semi-final against the All Blacks when they needed it most – despite a raft of phase play and possession, they didn’t make it out of their own 22.
The omission of skill was notably to their detriment in this World Cup; evidenced by the fact that they never made it close to the All Black try line in their tightly contested semi.
The ever improving Argentina have combined an almost genetic physicality at the breakdown with a string of attacking backs to complement. Steadfastly brilliant against Ireland, they lacked knowledge and patience in the semi-final against Australia which ultimately lead to their downfall.
A speculative approach, disregarding the value of possession rather than playing for territory potentiated a Wallabies intercept try after 67 seconds – from that point on there was a grim inevitability engulfing the rest of the match.
There are signs that Australia, however, possess all three of the traits required to win a World Cup. The Wallabies have built a reputation for running rugby.
Physicality at the breakdown is the reason Australia’s backrow is the best in the world and the leaking of in depth tactics on the eve of the final provided evidence of knowledge. Despite this, they didn’t ever seriously threaten the All Blacks in the final.
But it is one thing to possess these attributes – it is an entirely other concept to implement them accordingly. Perhaps the All Blacks impressed most in the final by adapting and amalgamating all three traits to suit the demands of the circumstances.
They possessed the knowledge to change their game plan to shut down play in the final, when a resurgent Australia threatened their lead with Ben Smith yellow carded. It was an elementary but efficient approach – control possession and territory and run down the clock to protect the lead.
Their imposing physicality at the breakdown meant David Pocock had a relatively quiet game and the skill to complete all three tries, coupled with the precision of Daniel Carter’s decisive drop goal were nothing short of breathtaking.
So where does this leave the future competitiveness of rugby? Conclusively, the All Blacks were deserved winners – and may well be for many years ahead. An approach characterised by precision and improvisation has further reinforced the cherished legacy of the All Blacks.
The first time a side has won back to back World Cups clearly has the potential to dominate in the future, handling any bullish opponents with contempt so ingrained in the culture that no one would disapprove, even if it were misconstrued as arrogance – such is their brilliance.
It almost defies belief, an Antipodean nation with a population of just four million could transcend the previous assertion of what made the best team in the world.
If rugby is New Zealand’s religion, most would rather pray to Richie McCaw than to their own respective deities. In reality, it should surprise no one – given the array of talent available, where a surplus of skill is combined with legendary New Zealand physicality and omniscient rugby knowledge to produce yet another generation of record breaking All Blacks.
New Zealand will reign supreme as the world’s richest rugby nation and most prolific rugby economy for the years ahead. A certainty rather than speculation, it might well force economists to reassess their own predictions of the expected growing global economies – New Zealand might well just top it.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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